Students, teachers to learn how to react during disaster<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Ministry of National Education plans to introduce a natural
\ndisaster anticipation program to schools located in disaster-
\nprone areas following the tsunamis that devastated Aceh and Nias
\nIsland in December.<\/p>\n
Director General of Primary and Secondary Education Indra
\nDjati Sidi said on Monday that aside from rebuilding the areas,
\nthe government would train local people to prepare for a natural
\ndisaster and provide a trauma center in the aftermath of a
\ndisaster.<\/p>\n
\"The post-tsunami conditions leave us with a question of how
\nto draft a school curriculum to help students anticipate an
\nearthquake, flood, or other disasters as we realize that
\nIndonesia is geographically vulnerable to disaster,\" he said at a
\nteaching seminar on Aceh at the University of Indonesia's School
\nof Psychology in Depok, West Java.<\/p>\n
He said the program was part of the master plan now being
\nprepared by the National Development Planning Board.<\/p>\n
Indra said his office had started training teachers and
\nstudents in certain areas after a major earthquake hit Bengkulu
\nin 2002.<\/p>\n
\"Now, we are going to implement it nationwide. Teachers and
\nstudents will be trained, for example, about how they can detect
\na disaster and how they should react to save their lives,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said the trainees would undergo a drill and be made
\nfamiliar with a warning bell or siren.<\/p>\n
\"Upon hearing such sirens, they are expected to leave all
\ntheir belongings and run for their lives. We will share the
\nknowledge to all students in all areas prone to tsunami,
\nearthquake and flood without adding to their academic burden,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The people on Simeulue Island had taught the general public a
\nlesson about how to survive the tsunami because they ran to
\nhigher ground when they noticed the sea sucking out of the bays
\non the island. Most people in other areas died because they came
\ncloser to the beach to see the view or catch the fish left behind
\nby the receding tide.<\/p>\n
Tsunami survivors said that sea water levels receded for about
\n15 to 20 minutes before the waves.<\/p>\n
According to ministry data, about 86,000 students, 1,800
\nteachers, and 231 local education agency workers were dead or
\nmissing in the disaster while about 2,000 school buildings were
\nleveled to the ground.<\/p>\n
Indra said over 330,000 Acehnese students were directly
\naffected by tsunami.<\/p>\n
\"We are now considering whether they should take the national
\nexam or not. Probably, they should to take school-based or other
\nlocalized tests. We will take time to consult with school before
\nwe decide,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The government has allocated about Rp 533 billion (US$57.9
\nmillion) to education in Aceh during the six-month period of
\nemergency relief, plus another Rp 8.5 billion? for the next five
\nyears to rebuild education infrastructure.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-teachers-to-learn-how-to-react-during-disaster-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}